JP4127487B2 - Connector for pipe connection - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector for pipe connection used for connecting a tube for fuel piping of an automobile, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in an automobile, as a means for sending fuel, a pipe is connected between the fuel tank and the engine, the fuel in the fuel tank is sucked by a pump, and the sucked fuel is sent to the engine side through a filter or the like. It has a structure. Such fuel pipes are provided with connectors at a plurality of positions as required, which is effective in the handling and assembling of the pipes, workability at the time of inspection and repair.
[0003]
For example, a connector pipe is suspended from the inner surface of the upper plate attached to the upper opening of the fuel tank, and a tube connected to a fuel pump installed in the fuel tank is connected to the above through the connector housing. It is designed to be connected to the connector pipe. The connector pipe is formed with at least a pair of engaging protrusions that are diametrically opposed, and the connector housing is formed with at least a pair of engaging pieces having engaging holes with which the engaging protrusions are engaged. Has been.
[0004]
Then, by inserting the connector pipe suspended from the upper plate into the connector housing, the engagement protrusion of the connector pipe engages with the engagement hole of the engagement piece of the connector housing, and the connector housing and the connector pipe The tube connected to the fuel pump is connected to the connector pipe via the connector housing.
[0005]
In such a connector for pipe connection, a pair of opposing engagement pieces of the connector housing are engaged and engaged with the engagement protrusions of the connector pipe so as to sandwich the connector pipe.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In this connector for pipe connection, for example, when separating the connector pipe and the connector housing for inspection and repair, a tool such as a flat-blade screwdriver is inserted, the engagement piece of the connector housing is expanded, and the engagement protrusion And the connector pipe must be pulled in the direction opposite to the insertion direction.
[0007]
However, in the above conventional connector for pipe connection, the pair of opposing engaging pieces of the connector housing engage with the engaging projection of the connector pipe so as to sandwich the connector pipe, so that one of the engaging pieces When a force in the release direction is applied to the piece, the other engagement piece is applied with a force in the engagement direction and is more firmly engaged, and cannot be easily released. Furthermore, there is a problem that if the engagement piece is excessively bent by being forcibly released, it is damaged.
[0008]
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to perform assembling as easily as in the prior art, and to ensure that a proper fitting state is ensured, and that the connector pipe can be easily separated from the connector housing at the time of inspection and repair. It is another object of the present invention to provide a connector for pipe connection that can prevent the engagement piece from being damaged.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector housing to which one of pipes to be connected is connected, and a connector pipe to which the other pipe to be connected is connected and inserted into the connector housing. And at least one pair of convex ribs arranged opposite to each other in the diametrical direction on the outer periphery of the connector pipe, and arranged in one direction substantially perpendicular to the diametrical direction connecting the pair of convex ribs And an elastically deformable engagement piece having a guide groove into which the convex rib is inserted and an engagement hole with which the engagement protrusion engages. The present invention provides a connector for pipe connection, characterized by being formed.
[0010]
According to the above invention, when the connector pipe is inserted into the connector housing, the convex rib of the connector pipe is inserted into the guide groove of the connector housing to prevent rattling, and the engagement projection of the connector pipe is connected to the connector housing. The stopper is engaged by engaging with the engaging hole of the engaging piece. Therefore, the connector pipe can be connected to the connector housing with one touch.
[0011]
Even when separated for inspection and repair, the single engagement piece and the engagement protrusion are fitted together, so that the engagement piece is caused by a tool such as a screwdriver to be removed from the engagement protrusion. In this state, simply pulling out the connector pipe can be carried out easily, not only improving workability, but also avoiding the need to apply a large load to the engagement piece and preventing the engagement piece from being damaged. .
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a connection pipe portion for connecting the one pipe is provided at an end portion of the connector housing opposite to the insertion portion of the connector pipe. The connecting pipe portion provides a connector for pipe connection arranged eccentrically on the engagement piece side with respect to the axial center of the housing.
[0013]
According to the above invention, since the connecting pipe portion is formed eccentric to the engaging piece side, in the state where the connector pipe and the connector housing are connected, the weight of the one pipe connected to the connecting pipe portion of the connector housing or When a load is applied due to the pressure of the fluid flowing inside, the load is greatly applied in the direction where the engagement piece and the engagement protrusion are engaged. Therefore, the load applied to the connector is well balanced, and the engagement is difficult to disengage. In addition, the durability of the engagement pieces and the engagement protrusions can be improved.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the engagement piece of the connector housing is connected to the main body of the connector housing so as to be elastically deformable in an outer diameter direction. A guide groove for holding the tool so as not to slide sideways when a tool such as a screwdriver is inserted to cause the engagement piece is formed in a portion facing the engagement piece of the main body. A connector for pipe connection is provided.
[0015]
According to the above invention, since the guide groove is formed in the portion of the main body of the connector housing facing the engaging piece, a tool such as a screwdriver is inserted into the guide groove when disconnecting the connector. The engaging piece can be easily detached from the engaging projection by rotating the tool or lifting it like this to cause the engaging piece. The guide groove prevents a tool such as a driver from being laterally displaced when the engagement piece is raised, thereby improving workability and further improving safety during use.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the connector pipe is formed so as to be suspended from an inner surface thereof integrally with an upper plate of the fuel tank. The present invention provides a connector for pipe connection that is connected to the connector pipe.
[0017]
According to the above invention, since the upper plate and the connector pipe are integrally formed, not only the mounting of the connector pipe to the fuel tank becomes easy, but also the work of separating the connector pipe and the connector at the time of repairing the fuel tank, etc. Also improves.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a connector for pipe connection according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the connector housing and the connector pipe in FIG. 1 are fitted, and FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the connector housing. (A) is a right side view, (b) is a plan view, (c) is a left side view, (d) is a front view, (e) is a perspective view, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a connector pipe. ) Is a left side view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a right side view, and (d) is a perspective view.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this pipe connecting connector is composed of a connector housing 11 to which one of the pipes to be connected is connected, and a connector pipe 13 to which the other pipe to be connected is connected. .
[0021]
Referring also to FIG. 3, the connector housing 11 has a cylindrical portion 12 formed at the center thereof, a connecting pipe portion 15 formed at one end in the axial direction, and an insertion portion 16 formed integrally at the other end. Yes. The insertion portion 16 includes a bottom portion 17, side portions 18 and 19 erected from the left and right sides of the bottom portion 17, and engagement pieces 21 formed with a predetermined gap 51 with respect to the side portions 18 and 19. The shape is surrounded by the inner peripheral shape of the connector pipe 13 to be described later.
[0022]
Guide grooves 20 and 20 are formed in the side portions 18 and 19 from the opening edge portions along the axial direction. The guide grooves 20 and 20 may be through-grooves as shown in this embodiment, or may be concave grooves formed inside the side portions 18 and 19. The engagement piece 21 is formed of a flat plate member having a base end connected to the cylindrical portion 12 and a distal end extending to the opening side of the insertion portion 16. A joint hole 22 is formed.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the axial center of the connecting pipe portion 15 is eccentric to the engaging piece 21 side by a distance X in the drawing with respect to the axial center of the cylindrical portion 12. Yes. This is because, as will be described later, the load applied to the connecting pipe portion 15 is particularly effectively applied to the engagement piece 21 to enhance the retaining effect. The eccentric distance X is preferably 0.1 to 0.2 times the diameter of the cylindrical portion 12.
[0024]
The reason why the gap 51 is provided between the engagement piece 21 and the upper sides of the side portions 18 and 19 is to apply an elastic force to the engagement piece 21. Engagement with the engagement protrusion 27 of the pipe 13 becomes possible, and a reliable fitting state can be obtained.
[0025]
Referring also to FIG. 4, the connector pipe 13 includes an insertion portion 52 that fits the inner periphery of the tubular portion 12 of the connector housing 11 and a main body portion 14 that has a slightly larger diameter than the insertion portion 52. . A pair of convex ribs 26, 26 that face the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 14 in the diametrical direction and protrude outwardly, and 1 substantially perpendicular to the diametrical direction connecting the convex ribs 26, 26. An engagement protrusion 27 formed in one direction is provided. An annular groove 29 is provided on the outer periphery of the insertion portion 52, and an O-ring 32 is fitted into the annular groove 29. The O-ring 32 serves to ensure airtightness when the insertion portion 52 of the connector pipe 13 is inserted into the inner periphery of the tubular portion 12 of the connector housing 11. Further, a taper portion 27a is provided on the surface of the engagement protrusion 27 in the insertion direction so that the connector housing 11 can be smoothly engaged, that is, engaged with the engagement piece 21.
[0026]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a method of using this pipe connector will be described. 5A and 5B show a method of assembling the connector, wherein FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram before assembling the connector housing and the connector pipe, FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram after assembling the connector housing and the connector pipe, and FIG. The separation method is shown, (a) is an explanatory view showing a state where a driver is inserted into the engagement piece of the connector housing, (b) is a state where the engagement piece is bent by turning the driver, and the connector pipe can be pulled out. It is explanatory drawing shown.
[0027]
When this connector for pipe connection is used, one of the pipes to be connected is connected to the connection pipe part 15 of the connector housing 11, and the other pipe to be connected is the end opposite to the insertion part 52 of the connector pipe 13. Connect to the part.
[0028]
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the engagement piece 21 of the connector housing 11 and the engagement protrusion 27 of the connector pipe 13 are in substantially the same position, and in the guide grooves 20, 20 of the connector housing 11, When the protruding ribs 26 and 26 of the connector pipe 13 are arranged so that they are aligned and the insertion portion 52 is inserted into the insertion portion 16 of the connector housing 11, the protruding ribs 26 and 26 of the connector pipe 13 are connected to the connector housing 11. Inserted into the guide grooves 20, 20, the engagement protrusion 27 of the connector pipe 13 starts to push up the engagement piece 21 of the connector housing 11 against the elastic force.
[0029]
When further inserted, the convex ribs 26, 26 are completely inserted into the guide grooves 20, 20, the engaging protrusion 27 engages with the engaging hole 22 of the engaging piece 21, and the tip 28 of the connector pipe 13 is The contact is completed by contacting the reduced diameter step portion 23 of the connector housing 11. At this time, the insertion portion 52 is inserted into the inner periphery 24 of the tubular portion 12 of the connector housing 11, and the O-ring 32 is brought into close contact with the inner periphery 24 to impart airtightness.
[0030]
In this state, the convex ribs 26 and 26 are fitted into the guide grooves 20 and 20 to prevent backlash in a direction substantially perpendicular to the diameter direction connecting them, and the engagement protrusion 27 and the engagement piece 21 are prevented. Ensure engagement with.
[0031]
Further, a load such as a pulling force caused by one pipe connected to the connection pipe portion 15 of the connector housing 11 is arranged such that the connection pipe portion 15 is eccentric to the engagement piece 21 side by a distance X in FIG. Therefore, it takes a larger portion where the engagement protrusion 27 and the engagement piece 21 are engaged. For this reason, even if the engagement protrusion 27 and the engagement piece 21 are engaged at only one place, a sufficient retaining force can be applied.
[0032]
Next, in order to separate the connector from the coupled state, as shown in FIG. 6A, a minus is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the main body 14 of the connector pipe 13 and the engagement piece 21 of the connector housing 11. A tool such as a screwdriver 33 is inserted, and then, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the screwdriver 33 is rotated about 90 degrees, and the engagement piece 21 is spread out against the elastic force to form the engagement piece 21. The engagement between the engagement hole 22 and the engagement protrusion 27 formed on the connector pipe 13 is released, and the connector pipe 13 is pulled out in this state.
[0033]
At this time, in the present invention, the engagement protrusion 27 of the connector pipe 13 and the engagement piece 21 of the connector housing 14 are engaged at only one place in the circumferential direction. When the mating protrusion 27 is removed, the other engaging portion is not tightened, and the connector can be easily separated with good workability. Moreover, since it is not necessary to bend the engagement piece 21 largely, damage to the engagement piece 21 can also be prevented.
[0034]
7A and 7B show a connector housing according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 7A is a left side view, FIG. 7B is a front view, and FIG. 7C is a perspective view. Although the form is demonstrated based on this figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the substantially same part as the said embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted or simplified.
[0035]
In the connector housing 41, a groove portion 42 extending from the side toward the engagement hole 22 is formed in a portion of one side portion 18 facing the engagement piece 21, that is, an upper side portion facing the gap 51. The groove 42 has a circular arc cross section and is formed so as to become smaller toward the back. Other structures are the same as those in the above embodiment. In addition, as a connector pipe, the same thing as the connector pipe 13 of the said embodiment can be used.
[0036]
The groove 42 is used when the connector pipe 13 is separated from the connector housing 41, and positioning when inserting a screwdriver or the like, or the engagement protrusion 27 of the connector pipe 13 and the engagement piece 21 of the connector housing 41, This function serves to prevent misalignment when the driver 33 is rotated when the engagement of the driver is released. However, since the driver insertion side is large, the driver can be easily inserted. In addition, although the groove part 42 is formed in the one side part 18, you may form in the opposite side part 19 and may form in both sides.
[0037]
FIG. 8 shows an example in which the pipe connector according to the present invention is applied to a fuel tank of an automobile.
[0038]
That is, an opening 36 is formed at an appropriate position on the upper surface of the fuel tank 35, and an upper plate 37 is hermetically attached to the opening 36 by means such as welding. The upper plate 37 is integrally attached to the upper plate 37 so that the connector pipe 13 penetrates the inside and outside of the tank. The main body portion 14 and the insertion portion 52 of the connector pipe 13 extend so as to hang from the inner side of the upper plate 37, and the other end of the connector pipe 13 is extended to the outer side of the upper plate 37 and bent at a right angle. For example, a fuel supply tube connected to an engine (not shown) is connected to an end portion extending to the outside of the connector pipe 13.
[0039]
The connector housing 11 is connected to the main body 14 and the insertion portion 52 of the connector pipe 13 from below, and the connecting pipe portion 15 faces downward. A tube 34 connected to a fuel pump (not shown) disposed in the fuel tank 35 is connected to the connection pipe portion 15. The connector housing 11 and the connector pipe 13 are connected by engaging the engagement protrusion 27 with the engagement hole 22 of the engagement piece 21 as described in the above embodiment.
[0040]
In this embodiment, since the tube 34 connected to the fuel pump is connected to the connection pipe portion 15, a load due to the weight of the tube 34 and the pressure for sending the fuel is applied. Since it is eccentrically arranged on the side of the combined piece 21, the load is effectively applied to the engaging portion between the engaging piece 21 and the protrusion 27, and a sufficient resistance against the pulling force can be obtained. Moreover, since the load greatly biased to the engagement piece 21 is not applied, the durability of the engagement piece is improved.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the connector pipe can be connected to the connector housing with one touch, and even when separated for inspection and repair, one engagement piece and the engagement protrusion are used. Because it is fitted, it can be easily separated by simply pulling out the connector pipe by causing the engagement piece to be removed from the engagement protrusion by a tool such as a screwdriver, and improving workability. In addition, it is not necessary to apply a large load to the engagement piece, and damage to the engagement piece can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a connector for pipe connection according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a connector housing and a connector pipe are fitted in the connector.
3A and 3B are detailed views showing a connector housing in the connector, wherein FIG. 3A is a right side view, FIG. 3B is a plan view, FIG. 3C is a left side view, FIG. 3D is a front view, and FIG. FIG.
4A and 4B are detailed views showing a connector pipe in the connector, in which FIG. 4A is a left side view, FIG. 4B is a front view, FIG. 4C is a right side view, and FIG.
5A and 5B show an assembling method of the connector, wherein FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram before assembling the connector housing and the connector pipe, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram after assembling the connector housing and the connector pipe.
6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating a method of separating the connector, wherein FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a screwdriver is inserted into an engagement piece of a connector housing, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which enabled extraction.
7A and 7B show a connector housing according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 7A is a left side view, FIG. 7B is a front view, and FIG. 7C is a perspective view.
FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view showing an example in which the connector for pipe connection according to the present invention is applied to a fuel tank of an automobile.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 41 Connector housing 12 Tubular part 13 Connector pipe 14 Main body part 15 Connection pipe part 16 Insertion part 17 Bottom part 18 Side part 19 Side part 20 Guide groove 21 Engagement piece 22 Engagement hole 23 Contact part 24 Through-hole 25 Through-hole Hole 26 Convex rib 27 Engagement projection 28 Reduced diameter step 29 Annular groove 34 Tube 35 Fuel tank 36 Opening 42 Groove

Claims (4)

A connector housing to which one of the pipes to be connected is connected; and a connector pipe to which the other of the pipes to be connected is connected and inserted into the connector housing. The outer periphery of the connector pipe is opposed to the diameter direction. And at least one pair of convex ribs arranged in the direction and an engaging projection arranged in one direction substantially perpendicular to the diametrical direction connecting the pair of convex ribs, A connector for pipe connection, characterized in that a guide groove into which the convex rib is inserted and one elastically deformable engagement piece having an engagement hole with which the engagement protrusion engages are formed. . A connecting pipe part for connecting the one pipe is provided at an end of the connector housing opposite to the insertion part of the connector pipe, and the connecting pipe part is connected to the axis of the housing. The pipe connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is arranged eccentrically on the engagement piece side. The engagement piece of the connector housing is connected to the main body of the connector housing so as to be elastically deformable in the outer diameter direction, and a tool such as a screwdriver is provided at a portion facing the engagement piece of the main body. 3. A connector for pipe connection according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a guide groove is formed for holding the tool so that it does not slip sideways when inserting the screw to cause the engagement piece. The said connector pipe is formed so that it may suspend from the inner surface integrally with the upper plate of a fuel tank, and the said connector housing is connected with this connector pipe. The connector for pipe connection as described.

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